body, mind and the sub-conscious. It is commonly known as Pulse diagnosis. The pulse communicates more than what we can feel. Energy flowing through the various channels (nadis), carry information about the health of all that connect to them as organ channels (srotas), tissues (dhatus), organs and their health and regeneration into the blood. Body metabolism and even information about our conscious, sub-conscious mind, attitudes, and also information about our samskaras (experiences) and vasanas (Patterns) that we lived through in the past are available as energies in blood for a nadi parikshak to know.
AYURVEDIC PULSE DIAGNOSIS
Ayurvedic Medicine has been using the pulse as a form of diagnosis since it was created . In Ayurvedic medicine the pulse is used in conjunction with Darshana (pure observation and inspection), and Prashna (questioning). It is all three of these that must be employed to reach a complete diagnosis. Pulse diagnosis is best understood through the teachings of those who have been practicing and teaching it the longest..
The overall method of taking the pulse begins with the placement of the fingers. The index finger is placed below the radial styloid. The radial styloid is the protruding wrist bone on the thumb side of the hand of the pulse recipient. The middle finger and ring finger are placed next to the index finger. The pulse taking fingers are adjusted along the underside of the arm to find where the pulse is the strongest.
The pulse is the beating of blood through the arteries as it moves outward from the heart. The blood carries nutrients to each cell in the body, just as thought is transferred through chemical reactions in the cells simultaneously, intelligence is found in the blood in the information it carries to each cell.
In Ayurveda this information carried by the blood is made of the 5 elements: earth, water, fire, air and ether. These are the scientific building blocks of Ayurveda. The 5 elements are used to explain in simple terms what science has determined through complex experiments. These elements combine in three distinct ways in the physical form. These are the Doshas , psycho-physiological functional principles of the body. The three Doshas are Vata which combines the elements of air and ether. Pitta is fire and an aspect of water. Kapha is water and earth. We can find the Doshas in the qualities and textures that can be felt in the pulse.
The Doshas have concrete qualities that are made when their respective elements are combined. Doshas being combinations of elements are not only found in the body, but also in the environment. As we look at the natural world we can see the dominance of air and ether in the dry barren plains of the high mountain desert of central Arizona . Vata is seen in the rough and rugged change of season characterized by Fall in the northern hemisphere. Pitta is characterized by summer heat, hard work, and intensity. Kapha is embodies the spring moisture of the Northwestern states of Washington and Oregon . This is when the qualities of earth and water are the most noticeable. Like the environment, Doshas can be supportive or destructive to our total well being.
Doshas and their qualities are also found in the pulse. Think of the pulse like a cardiograph: a computer readout graphically recording the physical or functional aspect of the heart. Like the graph being sketched across the screen of the computer the pulse has its own rate, crest, wave, amplitude, and cessation. These individual characteristics define the overall movement, quality, and rhythm of the pulse. In these broader categories the Doshas of Vata , Pitta , and Kapha can be distinguished based on the smaller movements sketched graphically by a cardiograph.
In pulse diagnosis our fingers become the receptors that transfer the information of the heart beat graphically into a more concrete image. The Gati (movement) is best defined by the natural world.
A snake as it swiftly slithers out of danger or attentively rests on a warm rock when felt characterizes Vata. The elements that make up Vata are air and ether and they are swift and light as they slither through the fingers.
A frog on land bounds powerfully, a frog in water pumps its legs and arms in strong fluid motions. The elements of fire and an aspect of water characterize Pitta bounding into the fingers, strong and forceful, but without the sharp quality of the snakes bite.
A swimming swan methodically bobs its head as it gracefully moves across the water. The elements of earth and water in Kapha glide into the fingers.
The Gati is considered the most important part of the pulse as it makes up the crest and wave of our computerized image or the movement of an animal. Vata has the quality of a snake. Pitta is a frog. Kapha is a swimming swan.
In Western diagnostics it is only the rate of the pulse that is taken. The rate is dependant on the dominance of the Doshas in Ayurveda. Vata is 80-90 beats per minute. Pitta is 70-80 bpm. Kapha is 60-70 bpm. The rhythm of the pulse can be irregular or regular. An irregular pulse has no distinguishable pattern. Its intensity and rhythm fluctuates wildly.
Vata is irregular. A regular pulse in consistent, it pumps in the same rhythm and amplitude. Its crest and wave are even.
Pitta is regularly irregular, meaning that if it skips a beat it always skips that beat, and thus the pattern repeats itself. The amplitude of the pulse is the force or strength with which the beat moves into the fingers.
Pitta's intensity is high,
Kapha's consistency is moderate, and
Vata's variability is low
. Overall the characteristics of each dosha are: Vata is feeble and light as it slithers into the fingers.
Pitta bounds into the fingers strongly and clearly.
Kapha slides into the fingers slow and cloudlike.
These are elaborated below.
VATA
Characteristics Fast, feeble, cold, light, thin,- disappears on pressure
Location Index
Gati Sarpa (Cobra)Location Index
Vega (Rate) 80-95
Tala (Rhythm) Irregular
Bala (Force) Low +
Akruti (Tension and Volume) Low
Tapamana (Temperature) Cold
Kathinya ( vessel wall) Rough, hard
PITTA
Characteristics Prominent,strong,highamplitude,hot,forceful,lifts- palpating finger
Location Middle
Gati Manduka (Frog)
Vega (Rate) 70-80
Tala (Rhythm) Regular
Bala (Force) High +++
Akruti (Tension and Volume) High
Tapamana (Temperature) Hot
Kathinya ( vessel wall) Elastic, flexible
KAPHA
Characteristics deep, slow, broad, wavy, thick, cool or warm, regular
Location Ring
Gati Hamsa (Swimming Swan)
Vega (Rate) 50-60
Tala (Rhythm) Regular
Bala (Force) Moderate ++
Akruti (Tension and Volume) Moderate
Tapamana (Temperature) Warm to cool
Kathinya ( vessel wall) Soft thickening
Interpreting the meaning behind what is felt in the pulse has been done by many generations of masters. It is their knowledge, expressed through the refined methodology of their technique that will guide us through the great river of the pulse, following the current looking for the continuity and conflict between methods. We will explore the ways of ancient wisdom and compare the differences and similarities between these time- tested-methods of pulse diagnosis.
. The index finger is for Vata, the middle finger is for Pitta, and the ring finger is for Kapha . The pulse will feel like a snake (V), frog (P), and swan (K) under these fingers when the pulse is in balance. When feeling the pulse, distinguish what Doshas are in which finger. As mentioned before, the Doshas should be found more in one finger than in the others. The Doshas will permeate more than its dominant finger and spread to other fingers as well. Or the Doshas could leave its finger completely when we are imbalanced. If you feel a Vata pulse in the Pitta finger than an imbalance may be present. In the beginning, focus is placed on differentiating between the V,P, and K pulse.
. As each Dosha has unique characteristics the amplitude is relative to itself and not to the other fingers. For example a vibrant Kapha pulse will never jump into the finger with the same amplitude as a strong Pitta pulse. Because the quality of the Pitta pulse is to jump and the quality of the Kapha pulse is to glide.
The Doshas combine to make a unique psycho-physical being. This is called Prakriti or Nature. This combination of all three Doshas is their natural state of balance at birth. By ascertaining the amplitude we can know the person's Prakriti . If for example you feel a Vata 3, Pitta 2, and Kapha 1 then the body type for this person would be 50% Vata , 30 % Pitta and 20% Kapha . The body type is that persons balanced state or Prakriti . This is the balance point where that individual is the most optimally healthy.
When taking the pulse the fingers can lie on the surface or press deeper to find different levels of the pulse. The change in the pressure on the vein, changes the meaning of the pulse. There are three levels of the pulse in this method. The first level is the superficial level, the way the pulse feels at the surface level of the wrist. The last level is the deepest level. Move from the superficial level to the deep pulse by pressing deeper into the underarm and noticing the quality of the pulse. pulse. Once the bottom has been touched, you come up a little until you can feel the pulse again. Then move towards the uppermost surface of the lake and feel the difference in quality at the superficial level. In Douilliard's method the deep layer of the pulse is the layer of the soul. It is the deepest layer and the root of our being. By misusing our intellect Pragna Parad we move away from the essence of our being, which is infinite. The deep layer of the pulse is this ground on which truth and wisdom grow. The superficial pulse is the material form, or our body. The pulse that links the two becomes important in this method later on. It is the junction point pulse and the bridge between the two. It is here that the imbalance that is causing disease in the body can be felt. The Gap pulse as it is called is very important in this method.
The pulse is influenced by our external environment.
Another technique used to familiarize oneself with how the pulse changes and what the presence of the Doshas feels like in the pulse is to take the pulse at meal time. As Fire is used to digest food, Pitta peaks as you are eating your meal and for approximately 15 minutes after the meal. Kapha takes over as the food is assimilated and the steady qualities of earth and water are needed. When Vata returns to the pulse approximately 4 hours later, the food has completely assimilated and it is time for another meal.
The four parts of the finger tip, with the 5 th being the entire circumference of the finger tip, are broken down below into their different Subdoshic functions. Number 1 is always closest to the radial styloid of the pulse recipients hand and 4 is closest to their heart.
VATA
V-1 Prana Mental, Respiratory, Neurological
V-2 Udana Ears, Nose, Throat, Neck, and Speech
V-3 Samana Digestion, improper formation of tissues, anorexia, diarrhea
V-4 Apana Excretion, Constipation, Menstrual, Sexual
V-5 Vyana Circulatory, Systemic disease
PITTA
P-1 Pachaka Digestion, jaundice, acid stomach, jaundice
P-2 Ranjaka Blood disorders, liver
P-3 Sadhaka Decisiveness, Memory, Intelligence, Spiritual inclination, Emotions
P-4 Alochaka Vision, Eyes
P-5 Brajaka Skin disease
KAPHA
K-1 Kledaka Digestion, mucous, the root of all other Kapha's
K-2 Avalambaka Back, Heart, Lungs
K-3 Bodhaka Taste, Smell
K-4 Tarpaka Senses, Cough, Nasal Congestion, Cerebral spinal fluid, headache
K-5 Shleshaka Joint pain, congestion
On Vata finger beginning from the most distal point from the heart the Vayus or winds go in order from Prana, Udana, Vyana, Samana, Apana . On the Pitta finger from thumb to heart is Pachaka, Ranjaka, Bhrajaka, Alochaka, Sadhaka. On the Kapha finger moving towards the heart is Kledaka, Avalambaka, Sleshaka, Bodhaka, Tarpaka .
There are many methods used to read the pulse. Each technique has its own way of determining what the characteristics of the pulse mean. All methods determine the Doshic involvement through the parameters of movement, amplitude, width, rhythm, and overall characteristics. The interpretation is based on what each method is looking for.
The difficulty lies in the subjective nature of the methods to determine what Dosha and imbalance is actually occurring based on the qualities of the pulse.
